TURF SPADE. 



526 



TURNIPS. 



Turf Spade or Turfing Iron. 



Closely allied to the shovel in form, 

 though it is used for a very different pur- 

 pose, is the turf spade or turfing iron, 

 illustrated in the accompanying engraving. 

 This implement, which is required 

 only by professional gardeners, 

 unless the garden or series of gar- 

 dens may be large enough to 

 bring it occasionally into requi- 

 sition, either for cutting fresh turf 

 or for removing the sward from 

 the surface already covered in 

 order to remedy inequalities, is a 

 heart-shaped steel 

 blade, riveted to a 

 bent shank termi- 

 nating in a socket for 

 the reception of the 

 handle. It is thus 

 formed that the blade 

 may be thrust under 

 the turf in a direction 

 parallel to the surface 

 without inconve- 

 nience. Turf is 

 generally marked out 

 into rows I foot in 

 breadth, and the edges 

 of the rows are cut 

 from end to end with a spade or any sharp 

 instrument. The rows are divided in the 

 same way into lengths of 3 feet. The 

 turf spade is then passed under each 

 length, and they are then rolled up for 

 removal. When the removal of any in- 

 equality of surface is the object in view, 

 the turf need only be rolled or lifted back, 

 so as to lay bare the spot to or from which 

 some soil is to be added or taken away, as 

 the case may be. It is also useful for 

 cutting turf from pasture ground to be laid' 

 by in heaps to rot, and thus form mould, 

 although for this purpose turf may be cut 

 well enough with a spade or shovel. The 

 numbers, indicating sizes, and the prices 



TURF SPADE OR 

 TURFING IRON. 



of cast steel turfing irons are as follows : 

 No. o, 6s. 6d. ; I, 73. 6d. ; 2, 8s. 6d. ; 

 3, 95. 6d. If handles are required, they^ 

 are supplied at is. extra. 



Turfing by Inoculation. 



This is done by thickly scattering small 

 pieces of turf over the ground and rolling 

 or beating them in. 



Turnips. 



Preparation of the Land. A somewhat 

 light, sandy, but deep rich soil, is most 

 suitable for turnips, and is indeed essential 

 to secure bulbs of mild and delicate flavour. 

 If the summer crops sustain any check 

 during their growth, they are apt to be 

 stringy and high-flavoured. Select, then, 

 a deep light soil, manure it heavily, and 

 trench to a depth of 2 feet, early in 

 autumn. If ground must be used for the 

 summer sowings which was not trenched 

 in autumn, this should be done before 

 putting in the seed. 



Time and Manner of Sowing. Sow a 

 small breadth of the Early White Dutch, 

 for the chance of a crop, upon a south 



STRAP-LEAVED WHITE STONE TURNIP. 



border, or in a warm, sheltered situation, 

 early in March ; and as this sowing is 

 liable to run to seed soon, put in a small 

 quantity of the same variety about the 

 middle of the month, and again early in 



